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Winemaker's Notes

The 2003 vintage of this wine was ranked #6 on the Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wines of 2006

90% Sémillon, 8% Sauvignon, 2% Muscadelle

Critical Acclaim

WE93

Wine Enthusiast - "Classic Sauternes, treading the fine line between sweetness and elegance. Initially, it seems to be dominated by the botrytis, but then sweet fruits also show, with ripe yellow fruits, honey and almonds, touched with citrus. As it develops, the wine will become richer and more intense."

WS92

Wine Spectator - "There's beautiful ripe fruit in this, with pineapple, mango and papaya and hints of vanilla and honey. Full-bodied and medium sweet. Rich and round, with loads of cooked apple, citrus peel and spices. Long and flavorful. Dense and rich. Best after 2012. 6,250 cases made.
"

W&S90

Wine & Spirits - "This is rich in color and in its scents of beeswax and macerated peaches. Clean, light and gently honeyed, this is a balanced, lovely Sauternes that should age well."

ST89

International Wine Cellar - "Pale gold. Peach, apricot, honey and spices are currently muted by SO2 on the nose. Then rather powerful in the mouth but closed, with densely packed peach and apricot flavors framed by strong acidity. A bit youthfully sullen today but finishes long and penetrating, with a hint of heat and a slightly sugary impression. "

Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey Winery

In the heart of the Sauternes country, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey has a striking appearance, rising out of this gently rolling countryside. The walls surrounding it give it a Hispano-Byzantine look. Its XIIIth century gateway and castle towers, along with the main building rebuilt in the XVIIth century, are tangible proof of its age. Mr Lafaurie purchased it during the Revolution, in 1794, and his outstanding knowledge of things of the earth brought the vineyard immediate renown, which was carried on by Mr D. Cordier who became owner in 1917. It is rightly described as having the extravagance of perfection.
View all Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey Wines

About Sauternes and Barsac

The regions of Sauternes & Barsac are both located southeast of Graves, almost directly south of St-Émilion, and hug the Garonne River as it curves. Both areas are dedicated to producing sweet, white wines. The rains, the mists, the humidity and the climate, all help foster the necessary mold that leads to the unfortified, but lusciously sweet wines produced there.

Notable Facts

Semillon is the primary grape here as it takes well to bortrytis, also known as "noble rot." Sauvignon Blanc is used in the blend to add acidity to the richer, thicker Semillon. The process for making the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac is long, labored and costly. Adter it has reached maximum ripeness, the Semillon grapes are left on the vine until they are infected with botrytis. This helpful mold then shrivels the grapes, concentrating the sugars but maintaining the acids. Weather is not always agreeable and berries must be picked at just the right moment, all by hand. The grapes yeild less juice than dry wines, due to their shriveled and concentrated state. Some houses, like the famed Chateau Yquem, will not make a wine in a less-than-perfect year. All these factors lead to highly prized, and often expensive, wine. However, the taste is well worth it. In the palate the wines of Sauternes & Barsac are luscious and sweet, yet with the balanced acidity to keep them from being too cloying or candied.

Wines with the Sauternes AC must be sweet - dry wines are labeled under the Graves or Bordeaux AC. Barsac wines may be labeled either Barsac AC or Sauternes AC. Typically, Barsac wines are a little lighter in body and less intense than Sauternes.

About France - Other regions

When it comes to wine, France is a classic. Classic blends, grapes and styles began in the country and they still remain. Think about it - people ask for a Burgundian style Pinot Noir, they refer to wines as Bordeaux or Rhone blends - Champagne even had to pass a law to stop international wineries from putting their region on the label of all sparkling wine.

The top regions of France are: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire, Rhone. And these regions are so diverse! It makes sense that wine regions throughout the world try to emulate their style. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and
Syrah are no longer French varieties, but international varieties. They may not be the leader of cutting edge technology or value-priced wines, but there is no doubt that they are still producing wines of great quality and diversity.

Alcohol By Volume Guide

Most wine ranges from 10-16% alcohol by volume. Some varietals tend to have higher (for example Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon) or lower alcohol levels (Pinot Noir and many white varietals), but there is always some variation from producer to producer. Some wine falls outside of this range, for instance Port weighs in closer to 20%, while Muscat and Riesling are usually a bit below 10%.

Wine Style Guide

Light & Crisp

Light to medium bodied wines that are high in acid and light to medium fruit. Typically no oak.